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Australia
USA
Area Comparison
Sydney is 69.9x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Sydney has 7.7x more people than Washington D.C.
Sydney is significantly larger, covering 69.9 times the area of Washington D.C.. Sydney spans 12,368 km² (4,775 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 12,191 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Sydney approximately 69 times.
To put Sydney's size in perspective, its area of 12,368 km² is about 2.0x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Australia's largest city, known for the Opera House. Known as "The Harbour City", Sydney covers 12,368 km² with a population of 5.3 million. The city was established in 1788. Sydney is known for Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Sydney Trains.
Sydney's administrative area is so large it stretches from the coast to the Blue Mountains foothills
Capital of the United States. Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1790. Visitors come for The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Sydney at 12,368 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 5.3 million.
Sydney has a population density of 429 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is dramatically more crowded, with 9.1x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Sydney in Oceania versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Sydney, it's midnight in Washington D.C. — a 15-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Sydney ~69 times
Density Gap
Washington D.C. is 9.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
15 hours apart
The straight-line distance from Sydney to Washington D.C. is 15,710 km (9,762 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~18h 59m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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